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Prague: A week to remember!

Posted by (Kansas, United States) on

It's Friday night and tomorrow I have to fly back home to Kansas but this has been an awesome trip. First I recommend getting a personal guide for your first full day in Prague and we used the one recommend in the RS Prague guide, it really helps to have someone who knows the old town area to show you the ways to get around and where to go to avoid crowds and tourist traps. The Prague Castle is great and the old town square with the huge clock is not to be missed but we found several "backdoor" experiences I wanted to share:
1) The Prague Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place to take a 1/2 day and get away from the crowds, the floweres are beautiful, the huge green house has plants from all over the world and there is a Japanese garden area with streams and waterfalls that was my favorite, as you continue through the gardens you end up in a vineyard and they have an area where you can purchase Czech wine that was grown right there to sample!

2) The Grayline Evening Dinner cruise that docks just in front of the Intercontinental Hotel was a nice surprise, the food is good (not gourmet) but tasted fine, the boat crusies the main river through Prague while you dine and enjoy wine or beer and there is a band that plays jazz during the cruise. I enjoyed this evening watching the lights of Prague much more than I thought I would.

3) Day trip to Karlstjd Castle is well worth the time, the castle structure is in good shape and our tour guide was excellent in explaining the history of the castle and the key people in Czech history. The trip is only 30-40 min ride from Prague center and the countryside is beautiful.

4) Spanish Synagogue is one of the most interesting buildings I've been in and one of the most beautiful synagogues in Europe and even better is we returned in the evening and they host string quartet concerts that are very reasonable cost wise. The music is truly inspiring as you sit in the building and they play everything from classical pieces to songs by the rock group Queen!

Prague is a wonderful place and your dollar goes along way here making it a must see!

Posted by
2252 posts

We loved Prague and were fortunate enough to be there for a week when RS was doing a 7Day tour there-2005. What an amazing, beautiful and intriguing city! And then there's that beer.....my husband was literally in 7th heaven. I plan to go back someday and loved reading your trip report. Thanks!

Posted by
207 posts

Outstanding trip report! Could you also share where you stayed and if you liked its location, value and local character. I am traveling with my 2 sisters so we love to find a very clean and multiple beds along with a great location and a great breakfast is a big plus or right by great cafes.

Also, what were your favorite secret finds in Old Town.

Thank you again and I will share our trip to Prague, Budapest plus a lovely week long river cruise on the Danube. We fly into Munich, Germany so working on train or bus travel to Prague.

KD

Posted by
2602 posts

Kathy--I was there in May and stayed at the Iron Gate on Michalska, gorgeous building dating to the 1400s and all kinds of rooms, I was upgraded to a suite with a sitting room and I travelled solo. Right in the middle of old town and close to the main square, but also quiet. Very clean and comfortable, excellent breakfast included and very helpful staff. I felt it was a great value, as Donald points out our dollar goes a long way there.

Posted by
1078 posts

Kathy,
Sorry it took so long to reply, I've been very busy a work since I got back. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel, which is very nice, in fact we generally stay at more modest hotels in the Rick Steves tradition but we were attending a medical conference and the rooms were part of the trip fee. I would recommend a trip up the funicular railway to the top of the hill over looking Prague, the view is awesome and there is an planteriaum on top with exhibits. The Spanish Synangoge is a must see, and sign up for one of the evening concerts. We found that if you got just 2-3 blocks away from the main touristy areas there a many fine places to eat. If your wanting to go out for a "nice" meal one evening then I would recommend the rooftop restaurant on the Intercontinental Hotel, the food is excellent and the view is inspiring. Hope you enjoy your trip to Prague!!

Posted by
2026 posts

Kathy, we stayed at the House at the Big Boot and it was excellent. Truly added a lot to our visit to Prague.

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